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History

The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia had its origins before World War II as the Bulgarian Diocese of North and South America and Australia. However, a result of the establishment of a Communist government in Bulgaria after the war, relations of the diocese with the Church of Bulgaria were disrupted. Under MetropolitanAndrei (Petkov) of New York, the diocese attempted, in the late 1950s, to join the Metropolia but was unsuccessful.

The diocese is currently led by Metr. Joseph with parishes in the United States, Canada, and Australia as an overseas diocese of the Church of Bulgaria under PatriarchMaxim and the Bulgarian Synod of Bishops. The diocesan cathedral is Ss Cyril and Methody Bulgarian Orthodox Cathedral in New York City.

The Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia is a member of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).